HB 1397: Multiple Employer Health Trust Funding - Colorado

Rerevised → Final Act · 4 edits · May 26, 2026

MODERATE

This bill was finalized to reduce state funding for firefighter and peace officer health benefits starting in the 2026 fiscal year. It decreases specific appropriations to the Department of Local Affairs and the Department of Public Safety, while also repealing a future requirement to fund these benefits in 2028. The changes ensure the state budget reflects lower funding levels for these programs.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on public safety personnel benefits, but the specific funding amounts and future legal requirements have been altered to reduce state financial obligations.

FISCAL

Reduced the general fund appropriation for firefighter heart and circulatory malfunction benefits by $150,000 and the appropriation for peace officer health screenings by $100,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Adjusted the reappropriated funds from the firefighter benefits cash fund by decreasing the allocation by $150,000.

REQUIREMENT

Repealed the legal requirement for the General Assembly to appropriate money for firefighter benefits starting July 1, 2028, removing a future funding mandate.

TECHNICAL

Added standard final act language, including signatures from legislative officers and the Governor, and the Safety Clause declaration.

Revised → Rerevised · 2 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MINOR

The document has been re-revised to include all amendments adopted in the Second House, updating the status from 'Revised' to 'Rerevised'. A new stamp indicates the bill is now at the 3rd Reading Unamended stage in the Senate, dated April 16, 2026. These changes reflect procedural progress in the legislative process rather than substantive policy modifications.

TIMELINE

The bill's status was updated from 'Revised' to 'Rerevised' to reflect the inclusion of all amendments adopted in the Second House.

A new reading date of April 16, 2026, was added for the 3rd Reading Unamended in the Senate.

Reengrossed → Revised · 3 edits · Apr 15, 2026

MINOR

The bill's title and summary were updated to clarify that it applies to benefits provided through a multiple employer health trust. The revision date for the Senate's second reading was changed from April 11, 2026, to April 15, 2026. The House committee assignments were adjusted to include the Senate Appropriations committee alongside the House Appropriations committee.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified to explicitly mention 'multiple employer health trust' in the title and summary, refining the context of the public safety benefits being discussed.

TIMELINE

The revision date for the Senate's second reading was updated from April 11, 2026, to April 15, 2026.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and summary were revised to explicitly state that the act concerns benefits provided through a multiple employer health trust.

The Senate Appropriations committee was added to the list of committees reviewing the bill.

Engrossed → Reengrossed · 3 edits · Apr 11, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to incorporate amendments adopted during the House of Introduction, updating the official title and summary to reflect these changes. The primary substantive update is the addition of a '3rd Reading Unamended' date stamp in the summary, clarifying that the summary text applies to the bill as originally introduced before any amendments were made.

TECHNICAL

Added a specific date (April 11, 2026) and label ('3rd Reading Unamended') to the bill summary to distinguish it from the reengrossed version.

Changed the document title from 'ENGROSSED' to 'REENGROSSED' and updated the subtitle to indicate amendments were adopted in the House of Introduction.

Added a new Senate sponsor, Brown, to the list of House sponsors.

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 9, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove a future funding obligation for firefighter benefits starting in 2028 and to update the repeal date for a specific subsection. Additionally, the appropriations for peace officer health screenings were adjusted by removing a 2025 provision and deleting a requirement for cardiovascular screening for peace officers.

Scope change

The bill's scope was reduced by eliminating future financial commitments for firefighter benefits and removing a specific health screening mandate for peace officers.

FISCAL

Deleted the requirement for the state treasurer to transfer $2.5 million to the firefighter benefits cash fund starting July 1, 2028.

Removed the appropriation of $350,000 for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, for peace officer health screenings.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for repealing a specific subsection regarding firefighter benefits from July 1, 2028, to July 1, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Deleted the requirement for the general assembly to appropriate funds for reimbursing a multiple employer health trust for cardiovascular screening for peace officers.

Multiple Employer Health Trust Funding

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